Switch and setting method

ABSTRACT

A disclosed switch includes: plural ports each of which is connected to another apparatus; a determination unit that determines, for each of the plural ports, whether the port is connected to one of plural switches integrated logically; and a setting unit that sets, for each of the plural ports, a port type or propriety of use based on a result of determination by the determination unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application, filed under 35 U.S.C.section 111(a), of International Application PCT/JP2013/054163, filed onFeb. 20, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD

This technique relates to a technique for setting switchesautomatically.

BACKGROUND

In a cloud service realized in recent data centers or the like, a largenumber of servers are deployed, and server resources are shared with alarge number of customers. Therefore, also in a network directlyconnected to a large number of servers that has been arranged, aredundant network is to be constructed by arranging a large number ofswitches and setting plural routes to increase bandwidth.

Because a switch at the previous stage of a server is in a network oflayer 2, when the redundant network is constructed as it is by settingplural routes, loop configuration occurs. Therefore, it is considered touse STP (Spanning Tree Protocol) or the like. However, when using STP,there is a problem that it is impossible to increase bandwidth becausethe redundant routes are blocked and cannot be used for communication.Therefore, a switch which is called a Fabric switch has appeared, inwhich the same kind of plural switches are logically integrated. TheFabric switch can use plural lines as redundant routes by exchangingstates inside. By doing so, it becomes possible to construct a redundantnetwork with wide bandwidth without using STP. Here, Fabric represents anetwork that is constructed by Fabric switches.

In switches included in a Fabric, ports connecting to other switches(hereinafter referred to as inner ports) and ports connecting toservers, terminals and other network apparatuses (hereinafter referredto as outer ports) are physically fixed or are defined for each port (aninner port or an outer port is defined for each port), and it is generalto construct the Fabric based on them because this Fabric switchlogically and virtually integrates plural switches into one.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, switches 1 to 6 are Fabricswitches, and a Fabric is constructed by these switches. The switches 1and 2 are connected to a core network, and the switches 3 to 6 areconnected to servers or storages. The switches 1 to 6 are connected toeach other. Then, a port illustrated by a circle on each switchrepresents an outer port connected to the core network or the servers,and a port illustrated by a quadrilateral on each switch represents aninner port connecting between the Fabric switches.

This is because plural lines are effectively used between inner ports,and an inner port is shown as a special interface for exchanginginformation inside while an outer port is shown as an ordinary switchport.

However, in a Fabric switch that physically distinguishes an inner portfrom an outer port, it becomes impossible not only to operate the Fabricswitch but also to construct Fabric when external apparatuses areconnected to inner ports, or other Fabric switches are connected toouter ports, namely, when wrong connections occur. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 2, it is impossible for the switch 6 to communicatewith switches 1 and 2 and to join in the Fabric, because the outer portsof the switch 6 is connected to the switch 1 and 2 that are other Fabricswitches. The same is true in a case where a port to be set as an innerport is set as an outer port in the switch 6. It takes time toinvestigate and to handle such connection errors and setting errors.

Moreover, in a Fabric switch whose port is set as an inner port or anouter port by a definition, a setting of an inner port or an outer portis carried out individually according to configuration. For example,when all ports are set as inner ports by default, it is impossible tocommunicate even if the ports are connected to external apparatuses orthe like because they are not outer ports. For example, as illustratedin FIG. 3, it is impossible to communicate as it is because the portsincluded in the port group A of the switches 1 and 2, which is connectedto the core network, and the ports included in the port group B of theswitches 3 to 6, which is connected to the servers, are initially set asinner ports. Therefore, initial setting processing becomes complexbecause the setting of the ports of the switches 1 to 6 are changed.

Furthermore, when the ports are defined as outer ports although physicalconnections between ports were carried out as inner ports (namely, whenwrong setting occurs), it means direct connection between ports in thesame switch because Fabric is logically considered to be one switch. Inother words, a loop of layer 2 occurs, and it is impossible to stop theloop until the connections are removed, or the definition is modified.Moreover, when lines are connected between the outer ports due toconnection error or the like although ports are set as outer ports andare scheduled to connect to external apparatuses as illustrated by thickline arrows in FIG. 4 (that is, when wrong connection occurs), a loopoccurs similarly and it influences communication performance in Fabric.

When Fabric switch is applied to a large scale system, the number ofswitches increases, and a possibility of wrong connection and definitionerrors dramatically increase. Then, it is a big problem for constructionof a system if the loop occurs due to the wrong connection or thedefinition error and a state of no communication continues for a longtime by them, because it is difficult to check the Fabric.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 11-252181

Patent Document 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2000-196626

SUMMARY

A switch includes relating to this technique includes: (A) plural portseach of which is connected to another apparatus; (B) a determinationunit that determines, for each of the plural ports, whether the port isconnected to one of plural switches integrated logically; and (C) asetting unit that sets, for each of the plural ports, a port type orpropriety of use based on a result of determination by the determinationunit.

The object and advantages of the embodiment will be realized andattained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointedout in the claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and arenot restrictive of the embodiment, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram explaining Fabric;

FIG. 2 is a diagram explaining a conventional problem;

FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining a conventional problem;

FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining a conventional problem;

FIG. 5 is a diagram explaining operation of this embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a diagram explaining operation of this embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram depicting configuration of a Fabric switch relatingto this embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram depicting an example of a port type setting;

FIG. 9 is a diagram depicting an example of a setting policy when adefinition conflict occurs;

FIG. 10 is a diagram depicting a processing flow for operation of aFabric switch relating to this embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram depicting a processing flow for operation of aFabric switch relating to this embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram for a case that a switch isimplemented by a computer.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In embodiments of this technique, after the switches 1 to 6 which areFabric switches are physically connected to each other, or the settingof the switches is changed, the switches 1 to 6 confirm whether aconnection destination of each port is a Fabric switch or not in spiteof the port setting as schematically illustrated by an array of FIG. 5.Then, because it is possible to confirm that the connection destinationof a port group E of the switches 1 and 2 and the connection destinationof a port group F of the switches 3 to 6 are the Fabric switches, theports are set as inner ports. If the ports are originally set as innerports, the port groups E and F shift to a usable state.

On the other hand, because it is confirmed that the connectiondestination of a port group C including ports of the switches 1 and 2,which is connected to the core network, and the connection destinationof a port group D including ports of the switches 3 to 6, which isconnected to the servers and similar, are not the Fabric switches, theyare set as outer ports. It means a shift from the state of FIG. 5 to thestate of FIG. 6. If the ports are originally set as outer ports, theport groups C and D shift to a usable state.

When each port is set as an inner port or an outer port in advance and aport type that is different from the port type set in advance isidentified, the port may be set as it is identified, or blocking(namely, an unusable state) may be set. When a port is identified as anouter port although the port is set as an inner port and when a casethat a port is identified as an inner port although the port is set asan outer port, the port may be set as it is identified or the blockingmay be set by a different policy.

In the following, configuration and operation of a Fabric switch toexecute such operation will be specifically explained.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of configuration of a Fabric switch 100relating to this embodiment. The Fabric switch 100 includes a controller110, a memory 120, switch hardware 130, and ports 1 to n. The controller110 controls whole of the Fabric switch 100 including the switchhardware 130, and includes a determination unit 111 that executesdetermination processing for a port type and a setting unit 112 thatexecutes setting processing for a port through the switch hardware 130.The controller 110 is realized by a combination of a processor andprograms, for example. In this case, the programs stored in the memory120 or other ROMs (Read Only Memory) are executed by the processor, andthe controller 110 is realized. The memory 120 stores data or the likeused in processing executed by the controller 110.

The switch hardware 130 is a semiconductor apparatus that communicateswith other Fabric switches by its original format and that relays framesbetween ports. The ports 1 to n are connected with cables that connectother Fabric switches, external networks, servers, or the like.

Next, by using FIGS. 8 to 11, detail of the processing executed by theFabric switch 100 relating to this embodiment will be explained.

For example, this processing is executed when the Fabric switch 100 isbooted. However, when only a specified port is made to be in a state oflink up, or when a definition of a port type is changed for only thespecified port, this processing is executed for the specified port.

For example, assume that ports are set as illustrated in FIG. 8. A porttype is set for each port as illustrated in the example of FIG. 8. Forexample, there are not only a case that a port type is directly set foreach port of the ports 1 to n but also a case that the same data as theexample of FIG. 8 is stored in the memory 120. Furthermore, a settingabout whether actual connections are prioritized or the blocking is setwhen a port which has been defined as an inner port is identified as anouter port (namely, when a definition conflict occurs) and a settingabout whether actual connection is prioritized or the blocking is setwhen a port which has been defined as an outer port is identified as aninner port (namely, when a definition conflict occurs) are stored in thememory 120 as illustrated in FIG. 9.

Then, the controller 110 causes each port on the Fabric switch 100 to bein a state of link up through the switch hardware 130, transmits LLDP(Link Layer Discovery Protocol) frame to each port, and obtainsaddresses of adjacent apparatuses connected to each port (FIG. 10: stepS1).

After that, the determination unit 111 included in the controller 110identifies an unprocessed port (step S3), and transmits an inquiry aboutwhether it is a Fabric switch to the address obtained for the port by aformat interpretable by the Fabric switch (step S5). As described above,because the switch hardware 130 has a function to communicate with otherFabric switches by its original format, the determination unit 111 letthe switch hardware 130 to transmit the inquiry.

When a port for which the inquiry is transmitted is connected to theFabric switch, the Fabric switch which is a connection destinationreceives the inquiry through a pertinent port and the switch hardware130, and the controller 110 replies to the inquiry similarly through theswitch hardware 130 and the pertinent port.

Thus, although the Fabric switch can reply to the inquiry when the portfor which the inquiry is transmitted is connected to the Fabric switch,apparatuses other than the Fabric switch cannot reply to the inquirybecause the apparatuses cannot understand the inquiry. Therefore, thedetermination unit 111 determines whether the reply to the inquiry fromthe identified port is obtained (step S7). When it is determined thatthe reply is not obtained within a predetermined time, the processingshifts to the processing of FIG. 11 through a terminal A. No reply meansthat the port is connected to an external apparatuses that cannotunderstand the inquiry.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the reply is obtained, thedetermination unit 111 determines whether a port type of the port forwhich the inquiry is transmitted is defined as an outer port (step S8).Because obtaining the reply means that the port is connected to theFabric switch, a definition conflict exists when the port type isdefined as an outer port.

When it is determined that the port type is defined as an inner port(step S8: No route), the setting unit 112 sets the port for which theinquiry is transmitted as a usable state as it is (step S17). Then, theprocessing shifts to the step S15. In other words, the port is used asan inner port. This means there was no problem for connections, and theport can be used as it is.

On the other hand, when the port type is defined as an outer port (stepS8: Yes route), the setting unit 112 determines whether there's asetting that the blocking is set when a definition conflict for theouter port occurs (step S9). When it is determined that there's asetting that the port is set according to the actual connections withoutblocking (step S9: No route), the setting unit 112 changes the port typeof the port for which the inquiry is transmitted into an inner port(step S11). Thus, when a conflict between the actual connections and thesetting occurs, the setting is preferably changed according to theactual connections. Then, the processing shifts to the step S15.

On the other hand, when it is determined that there's a setting that theblocking is set, the setting unit 112 set the port for which the inquiryis transmitted as a blocking port (step S13). In other words, the portis set as the unusable state. Because a problem like a loop can occurwhen connections are wrong, the port is preferably set as the blockingport. Then, the processing shifts to the step S15.

Then, the determination unit 111 determines whether there is anunprocessed port (step S15), and the processing returns to the step S3when it is determined that there is an unprocessed port. On the otherhand, when it is determined that there is no unprocessed port, theprocessing ends.

Shifting to the explanation of the processing of FIG. 11, thedetermination unit 111 determines whether the port type of the port forwhich the inquiry is transmitted is defined as an inner port (step S21).Because no reply within the predetermined time means that the port isconnected to an external apparatus, a definition conflict exists whenthe port type is defined as an inner port.

When it is determined that the port type is defined as an outer port(step S21: No route), the setting unit 112 set the port for which theinquiry is transmitted to a usable state as it is (step S23). Then, theprocessing returns to the step S15 of FIG. 10 through a terminal B.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the port type is definedas an inner port (step S21: Yes route), the setting unit 112 determineswhether there's a setting that the blocking is set when a definitionconflict for the inner port occurs (step S25). When it is determinedthat there's a setting that the port is set according to the actualconnection without blocking, the setting unit 112 changes the port typeof the port for which the inquiry is transmitted into an outer port(step S27). Thus, when the conflict between the actual connections andthe setting, the setting may preferably be changed according to theactual connection. Then, the processing shifts to the step S15 of FIG.10 through the terminal B.

On the other hand, when it is determined that there's a setting that theblocking is set, the setting unit 112 sets the port for which theinquiry is transmitted as the blocking port (step S29). In other words,the port is set as an unusable state. Because there is a possibilitythat a problem like a loop occurs when connections are wrong, the portmay preferably be set as the blocking port. Then, the processing shiftsto the step S15 of FIG. 10 through the terminal B.

By executing the processing as described above, it is possible toautomatically set a port type based on actual connections regardless ofinitial setting.

In a network peripheral to servers deployed in a data center and anetwork of a general server system, the number of switches deployed onthe preceding stage of servers increases as the number of the serverswhich have been deployed increases. Then, even if management issimplified by logically showing a switch as a Fabric switch, it takestime to detect a cause of a problem and an introduction cost increases,because it is difficult to decrease connection errors and portdefinition errors and a system operates even if there are a fewdefinition errors. However, it becomes possible to reduce a cost byexecuting the processing described above.

However, if the blocking is preferable when a definition conflictoccurs, it is possible to perform the blocking. Furthermore, setting maypreferably be performed based only on actual connections. Furthermore,other method than the method as described above may be used to confirmwhether an adjacent apparatus is a Fabric switch or not.

Although the embodiment of this technique was explained above, thistechnique is not limited to those. For example, the functional blockdiagram of the controller 110 in the Fabric switch 100 is a mereexample, and the configuration in the functional block diagram does notalways correspond to actual program module configuration.

As for the processing flow, as long as the processing results do notchange, the turns of the steps may be exchanged or the steps may beexecuted in parallel.

In addition, the aforementioned Fabric switch 100 is a computerapparatus as illustrated in FIG. 12, a memory 2601, CPU 2603, Hard DiskDrive (HDD) 2605, display controller 2607 to be coupled with a displaydevice 2609, drive device 2613 for a removable disk 2611, input unit2615 and communication controllers 2617 (2617 a to 2617 c in FIG. 12)for coupling to a network may be coupled with a bus 2619. Incidentally,according to circumstances, the display controller 2607, display device2609, drive device 2613 and input unit 2615 may not be included. The OSand application programs for carrying out a processing in theseembodiments are stored in the HDD 2605, and read out from the HDD 2605to the memory 2601 when being executed by the CPU 2603. If necessary,the CPU 2603 controls the display controller 2607, communicationcontroller 2617 and drive device 2613 to carry out necessary operations.Incidentally, data that was inputted through any one of thecommunication controllers 2617 is outputted through anothercommunication controller 2617. The CPU 2603 controls the communicationcontrollers 2617 to appropriately switch output destinations. Inaddition, data during the processing is stored in the memory 2601, andstored in the HDD 2605 if necessary. In the embodiments of thistechnique, the application programs for carrying out the aforementionedprocessing are distributed by a computer-readable removable disk 2611storing the application programs, and the application programs areinstalled into the HDD 2605 through the drive device 2613. The programsmay be installed into the HDD 2605 through the communication controller2617 and the network such as the Internet. Such a computer apparatusrealizes the aforementioned various functions by cooperating thehardware such as the CPU 2603, memory 2601 and the like with the OS andthe application programs if necessary.

The aforementioned embodiment is summarized as follows:

A switch relating to this embodiment includes: a memory; and a processorconfigured to use the memory and execute a process. And the processincludes: determining, for each of plural ports each of which isconnected to another apparatus, whether the port is connected to one ofplural switches integrated logically; and setting, for each of theplural ports, a port type or propriety of use based on a result of thedetermining. By doing this, it becomes possible to automate setting of aFabric switch.

Moreover, the determining may include: transmitting, for each of theplural ports, an inquiry that can be interpreted by the plural switchesintegrated logically; and determining, for each of the plural ports,whether a reply to the inquiry was obtained. Because the Fabric switchcommunicates using a predetermined format among Fabric switcheslogically integrated, the Fabric switch transmits the inquiry by thepredetermined format. Then, it becomes possible to distinguish becauseapparatuses other than the Fabric switch cannot reply to the inquiry.

Furthermore, the setting may include: setting a port type of a firstport for which the reply was obtained as a first port type that is aport type of a port connected to the plural switches integratedlogically. Moreover, the setting may include: setting a port type of asecond port for which the reply was not obtained as a second port typethat is a port type of a port connected to an external apparatus or anexternal network. It becomes possible to automatically set when it ispreferable to set according to actual connections. In other words, itbecomes possible to avoid a problem on constructing the Fabric due todefinition errors and wrong connections, and to prevent the loopoccurring.

Furthermore, the setting may include: upon detecting that a port type ofa first port for which the reply was obtained is set as a first porttype that is a port type of a port connected to an external apparatus oran external network, causing the first port to be in an unusable state.Moreover, the setting may include: upon detecting that a port type of asecond port for which the reply was not obtained is set as a second porttype that is a port type of a port connected to the plurality ofswitches integrated logically in advance, causing the second port to bein the unusable state. It becomes possible to avoid errors onconstructing the Fabric due to the wrong connections and to prevent theloop occurring.

Moreover, the setting may include: upon detecting that a port type of afirst port for which the reply was obtained is set as a first port typethat is a port type of a port connected to the plurality of switchesintegrated logically in advance, causing the first port to be in anusable state; and upon detecting that a port type of a second port forwhich the reply was not obtained is set as a second port type that is aport type of a port connected to an external apparatus or an externalnetwork, causing the second port to be in the usable state.

Incidentally, it is possible to create a program causing a processor toexecute the aforementioned processing, and such a program is stored in acomputer readable storage medium or storage device such as a flexibledisk, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, magneto-optic disk, a semiconductor memory, andhard disk. In addition, the intermediate processing result istemporarily stored in a storage device such as a main memory or thelike.

All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended forpedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the inventionand the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, andare to be construed as being without limitation to such specificallyrecited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of suchexamples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority andinferiority of the invention. Although the embodiments of the presentinventions have been described in detail, it should be understood thatthe various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made heretowithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A switch, comprising: a memory; and a processorcoupled to the memory and configured to: transmit an inquiry from eachof a plurality of ports each of which is connected to another apparatus,wherein the another apparatus is a first apparatus that transmits areply to the inquiry and is one of a plurality of switches that arelogically integrated, or a second apparatus that does not transmit thereply to the inquiry; determine, for each of the plurality of ports,whether the reply to the inquiry has been received from the port; andconfigure, for each of the plurality of ports, a port type or proprietyof use based on a result of the determining.
 2. The switch as set forthin claim 1, wherein the configuring comprises configuring a port type ofa first port from which the reply to the inquiry has been received as afirst port type that is a port type of a port connected to the pluralityof switches that are logically integrated.
 3. The switch as set forth inclaim 2, wherein the configuring comprises configuring a port type of asecond port from which the reply to the inquiry has not been received asa second port type that is a port type of a port connected to anexternal apparatus or an external network.
 4. The switch as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the configuring comprises upon detecting that a porttype of a first port from which the reply to the inquiry has beenreceived is configured in advance as a first port type that is a porttype of a port connected to an external apparatus or an externalnetwork, causing the first port to be in an unusable state.
 5. Theswitch as set forth in claim 4, wherein the configuring comprises upondetecting that a port type of a second port from which the reply to theinquiry has not been received is configured in advance as a second porttype that is a port type of a port connected to the plurality ofswitches that are logically integrated, causing the second port to be inthe unusable state.
 6. The switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein theconfiguring comprises: upon detecting that a port type of a first portfrom which the reply to the inquiry has been received is configured inadvance as a first port type that is a port type of a port connected tothe plurality of switches that are logically integrated, causing thefirst port to be in an usable state; and upon detecting that a port typeof a second port from which the reply to the inquiry has not beenreceived is configured in advance as a second port type that is a porttype of a port connected to an external apparatus or an externalnetwork, causing the second port to be in the usable state.
 7. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program thatcauses a computer to execute a process, the process comprising:transmitting an inquiry from each of a plurality of ports each of whichis connected to another apparatus, wherein the another apparatus is afirst apparatus that transmits a reply to the inquiry and is one of aplurality of switches that are logically integrated, or a secondapparatus that does not transmit the reply to the inquiry; determining,for each of the plurality of ports, whether the reply to the inquiry hasbeen received from the port; and configuring, for each of the pluralityof ports, a port type or propriety of use based on a result of thedetermining.
 8. A setting method, comprising: transmitting, by aprocessor, an inquiry from each of a plurality of ports each of which isconnected to another apparatus, wherein the another apparatus is a firstapparatus that transmits a reply to the inquiry and is one of aplurality of switches that are logically integrated, or a secondapparatus that does not transmit the reply to the inquiry; determining,by the processor and for each of the plurality of ports, whether thereply to the inquiry has been received from the port; and configuring,by the processor and for each of the plurality of ports, a port type orpropriety of use based on a result of the determining.